Access Guide

Search Access Guide

Summary

View information about opening hours.
Amenities in this area include: exhibition rooms.
The most accessible entrance has a slight ramp/slope and a door permanently held open.
This entrance is at the side of the watermill.
There are 2 floors once inside.
Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
There is step-free access to the ground floor only once inside.
The observation platform is only accessible by steps.
There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
The following are also available: seating.
This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is in the Watermill Tea Room, at the top of the stairwell, to the rear of the side room.. View information about this toilet (new tab)

You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: trampers. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
The trampers need to be booked prior to visiting.

From the visitor reception turn left taking the less sloped path.
Continue along this path until you come to a fork and turn right.
The watermill is on the right after passing through the River Gardens.
The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
Path surfaces along the route are compact earth, tarmac and gravel.
The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
There is no accessible shuttle to this area.

There are 10 or more steps.
The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.
The highest step is 22cm high.
The open access point leading to the steps is 102cm wide.

The entrance surveyed is located at the side of the watermill.
There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
The slight slope is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
The width of the opening is 105cm.
This door is also used as an exit when coming from the direction of the Watermill Tea Room.

The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.
There is stepped access along the tour route.
There are doorways or openings used on the tour which are under 75cm wide.
The majority of walkway widths are over 180cm.
The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a photo album.
Different tour types are available which may vary the tour time and route.
There is background noise along the tour route.
The following may be experienced on the tour: sudden loud noises.
Tour information includes the following formats: information board and television/screen.
The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
There are chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
Flooring along the tour route is not smooth and even.
Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to uneven paving/tiles.
Lighting levels are low along parts of the tour route.
There are guided tours available at 11:30 and 14:00. Outside of these hours the tour is self-guided.
There is a slight slope between the main room and another small part of the mill.
There are 2 steps to access the ground floor observation platform, however, this can be seen from the outside of the mill to avoid steps.

The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 1.
There are 12 steps between floors.
The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the left going up.
The highest step is 19cm high.
Lighting levels are moderate to good.
These stairs access the room which houses more large turning cogs.
There are photographs of this area for visitors to view if they are unable to climb the stairs.

Access into the shop is via a slight ramp/slope.
The slope is under 75cm wide.
The door is manual, permanently held open and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
The width of the door opening is 86cm.
Internally the door has a medium colour contrast.
The majority of aisle widths are under 150cm.
Some flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
There is step-free level access around the shop.
There is no (or very little) background noise here.
Lighting levels are moderate to good.
There is step-free level access to the counter.
The height of the counter is 92cm.
There is not a low level counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
Services/facilities available in the shop include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.

The exit is located within the shop.
There is step-free level access at the exit.
There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
The width of the opening is 86cm.
There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of more than 1.5cm.
This door is also used as an entrance when coming from the direction of the Watermill Tea Room.